((STORY EXTRACT))

“S-Strikey, what’s… what’s that?” Dad looked to me as my eyes were frozen onto the steadily-climbing missile, watching it start to arc southwards in it’s trajectory, slowly but surely. My hooves fell limp, everything going quiet around me, even as I watched my dad rushing over to the TOG and dropping into the top of the turret. The barrel of the 17-pounder gun swung around to aim towards the southeast, then started climbing as fast as the motors would allow, not taking too long before hitting the top of it’s elevation.

“No use pulling a Pripytrot silo attempt, Twintails, that thing’s at least forty kilometers away! What the hell is it, anyways?” Minty had pulled out his gauss rifle and was tracking the missile with it as well, my eyes meeting Static’s as Project Cerberus continued to rocket skywards. But… but… I thought you killed Cerberus… how could he have launched it if he was dead!? Unless…

A loud scream left me as I smashed both forehooves to the ground, eyes screwing up tight as I spoke through clenched teeth. “AAGH, for FUCK’S SAKE! Does every goddess-damned wasteland supervillain have a dead hoof switch for their superweapon or something?! Fuck!” Shuddering breaths escaping me, I went back to watching the missile’s ascent, everything gone limp. We… we failed. Static had trotted over beside me, resting a hoof on my shoulder to comfort, my vision turning to him. He let off a sigh, letting his head fall, before pulling me up into a tight hug – at least we’ll have each other, in the end.